Norwell Legion post to hold fundraising barbecue this weekend

NORWELL – The town’s American Legion post will hold a barbecue this weekend to raise money for a building to house the post.

The barbecue is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of the Sparrell School at 322 Main St. In the event of rain, the barbecue will be postponed to Sunday.

In addition to food and beverages, the event will feature a dunk tank, a pitching-speed challenge, face painting and other fun events. Admission will be free, but there will be charges for food, beverages and the amusements.

“We’re not going to get a lot of money out of it, but we’ll get a lot of publicity and support out of it,” ” said post member Bob Breen.

The post is planning other fundraisers for early 2015, Breen said.

Founded in 1919, Samuel Turner Post 192 of the American Legion has been without a permanent location for the past 75 years. Post meetings have been held in several places over the years.

Earlier this year, the post expressed interest in acquiring the police station on River Street as a permanent home. The police department is expected to move into new quarters adjacent to the fire station on Washington Street in early 2015.

Breen said the post has obtained cost estimates for constructing a new building on the River Street site.

“We’re thinking it will be close to $1 million,” he said.

The post is also seeking estimates of how much it would cost to renovate the existing building.

The post plans to offer meeting space to other youth and community groups, Breen said.

In May, town meeting narrowly rejected a plan to transfer the property to the town’s Community Housing Trust, which has proposed building a 14-unit affordable-housing complex there.

Breen said the post plans to file a similar article for the 2015 annual town meeting.